Cannon



Dec. 25, 192s.

E. J. BLOOD CANNON 3 Sheets-Sheet Filed Sept. 9, 1926 Dec. 25, 1928.

E. J. BLOOD CANNON Filed sept, 1926 3 sheets-sheet 2 llllIIHHHIHIHHYIHII HNI IIHHHHHHHHIM WHHHHHHIHH Dec. 25,1928. l n Y 1,696,339

E.,J. BLOOD i CANNON Filedl sept.`9, 192e s sheets-sen 3 Patented Decr25. 1928.

y -D VST'Ai'ifES'4 l EDWIN zr. BLOOD.. or CHICAGO, lILLINOIS.;

CANNON.

Y Application led' September 9,1926; VSerialjlhr.134,558:

Y structed Without the use of heavyfforgings,

` mer is inserted in theboreof the latter, by

but instead thereof, by thel employment of a large numberof small partsfreduced to very thin or sheet likeiformation by a rolling process or otherwise, thereby attaining superior and known' quality of the parts and avoiding the risk of hidden and inherent de` feets andk integral strains attendant ,uponV heavy'forgings. i

Anotherfobject of the present invention is, to render this manner of constructing theV largertypeof lcannon morezperiect, bypro-v viding new structural features Which vvilly function 'easily and furnishV practical means fordisconnecting'the` parts vof the vgun orv fory knocking the same down.

In aiording means to accomplishl th-is'iref sult, it is evident that ythe value andim portance` of a structure embodying suchfa construction is very important and increases the l value of the invention; V

Another object of theinvention' is, to:

provide means in the constructiony of .the

cannon Jforfeolually distributingvthe initialV strain'or tensionthereof'and forv maintain-V ing `t athigh pressureat the time it is subjected to*V the shock of explosion. l

A furtherobject of the invention is, to provide improved means for attainingeven or uniform `pressure or4 tension 'of the inner and outer barrel 'or barrels,v When the foremploying longitudinallyslotted sleeves ot ductile material Which is insertedhbetvveen the barrels. i.

Still another object isy to`v provideV such sleeves with longitudinal slots in` order that the may be lmore readily placed in position, an also` for the vpurpose of preventing buckling or crinkling ofthe same when so positioned.

Other objects andadvantages of.V the invention will be disclosed in the following description and explanation, Which Will be more readily understood When read 'in' conjunction With the accompanying-drawings,

p vention so longv 'as they fall lWithin Vot the appended claims;

which illustrate an embodimentaoftheipresl l Y entinvention, itbein'g. understood thatmodiv fications andcha'nges maybe resortedjto Without departing froml the spiritjof the inln the accompanying:drawings: Y

F ig. l is a plan View of'a -cannonfconi o5 structed accordingto my present'invention'. i '1 Fig. 2 is a plan longitudinal sectional view takenon the horizontal medial line of Fig.v

l; 'showin-g' the manner of securingthe spools l i' d the-scopep' Which carry metalv reenforcing disksorjmelny bers, together, but with the barrel-s omittedj VFig. 3 is Van enlarged horizontalsectionalV View cfa portion of the .cannon shovvingga plurality of barrels having mountedthereon a spool loaded with or surrounded by anumberiof" reenforcin-g and apertured disks forV withstanding cross-'sectional jstrain'f and also illustrating the ductile tubesjinterposedl bei tween thelbarrels of the cannon and onel 'l' betweentheouter barrel and said s ool. i

Fig. lfis a sidevieW-in elevationo apart of theca-nnonillustratinglthe mannerv of connecting vthe aforesaid spools together-' longitudinally.

portion ofi the bodyof 'the cannon',Y 4and one. of the strengthening or fastening girdersin Position thereon.Vv i i f 1F ig.,` 6 lis *a longitudinal sectional. viefvv off rels and "ductile tubes interposed betweeneach. Y

algun barrel made upof au plurality rof bar-y oo ,Y Fig; 7 V is a'detached perspective 'viewoff a Y Fig. 9 is a vertical`-sectional view taken'.

line 9-.9 ofFigyS lookinginfthe-jdirectio Fg. l0 'sj a fr gmejntalv sectional"viewY indicatedbythe arrovvsf'and Vportionof'one of the ductilev tubes orpieceslz VFig-8isnahorizontal sectionalvievvjofthef; y ybreech A`end of a cannon `constructed accordiY ing to the invention showingy itequippedj` ,v with'abreech-blockvand'iiring mechanismtaken Online 10-10 of nig. s, looking inf: thedirection indicated by the arrows shofvvff` ing another manner-of.connectingthe flan'g'es1 of the spools together bym'eansfof"algirden or strengthening member.

Corresponding characters' `Vofrv reference,v fr designateflikerparts throughout the-,hdiiferent i* views ofthe drawings.y 1

' Thev crystalline `formationV vof. massive steel ingot Weighin'glmany tonsisi'fbutpar-j tially Vchanged :to a librous' formation 'bythe process Yof forging, but when reduced by rollersorotherwise to very thin or sheet like form, the metal is'chavngedv entirely'to a fibrous formation increasing its i tensile strength severalhundred perI cent, sometimes reaching as high as threehundred thousand pounds per square inch'while ninety thousand pounds per square inch is high in amassive forging, hence to insure the greatest strength and durability inthe larger type of guns or cannons I prefer and usually will employ metal of a fibrous' formation and in pieces of such size and form as may be'desired to attain high tensile strength and to enable parts of superiorand known quality only to beselected and incorporated ,in the structure of the cannon. Y .l

It will therefore be understood that it is the purpose ofthe present invention to. eme ploy relatively small parts rolled or otherwise formedvery thin, or sheet likepaits, in

* the construction of a cannon, in order to cbr tainthe, greatest strength and to know Vthat the partscomprising the cannon are without flaws, imperfections or weakness.

This, has been obtained bythe structure constructed according to the invention set forth in my aforesaid patent. .Howeveig said patent sets forth a structure that is deficient in some respects and itis the purpose of theV present invention to correct .said deficiencies, aswell as, tov provide means for more perfect, easy anduniform pressure or tension of the inner and outer barrels, and furthermore, to render it more easy to assemble the parts and detach them, than has heretofore .As .my present invention Vis similar Yin evl ery respect tov the structure set forth and claimed in the aforesaidpatent, with the eX- ception of the means hereinafter described of firmlyrattaching for easy .detachment the tofplacev the ductile members betweentheV strengthening 'members or girders tothe flanges-of the spools which carry the disk f'like reenfoicing members, and with the eX- ccption of providing easy means Vfor detaching said` girders from the spools, and` with tliejeXception of rendering it can easy matter barrels-and spools when desired and` in such aimanner as .to beneficially effect the eiiicien-V Vcy of said ductile members in a greater-degree than before, and with the exception of thefiring mechanism, I will describe the gun Vin a; general way, only, but will set forth fully hereinafter the structure or combined parts which I claim .as new and` will specify in theianneXed claims. s Y A Referringnow to the dravings it will be seen and understood by reference to Figs. 1 to inclusive that the cannon comprisesfanv inner Vbarrel .15j anfouterV barrel 16 and' in some instances other barrels 17 interposed4 between the inner andouter barrels, all of which barrels are tapered froinl-the breech Aas shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

tbwards the Vmuazle end4 of the'cannvon as in the said vpatented construction. Sur- VVrounding the outer barrel are a number of :longitudinally extended spools, each madeup of an oppositely tapered body portion 19 each body portion having at opposite ends i an annulaiuflange 2O extended outwardly aroundthe outer barrel, or as shown in Fig. `3A around a slotted sleeve or tube 21 of copper. or other ductile materialfsuch as white lead, one of which sleeves is interposed between the adjacent surfaces of the barrels body portionV 19 of each of the sections com! posing each spool is surrounded by thin steel or metalV disks 22 and held in close relation as shown by theflange v20 of the inner section of each j spool. These sections are fitted on the outer barrel so that the ilanges 20 will closely contact with each other. Near the Vmuzzle end of the cannon andsuiroundingthe barrelsthereof isa collar 23 having oppositely disposed transverse openings located Vat theV sides of the barrels. 1 i

i The spools, or rather the flanges 2O therevof abutting each other arefheld in firm position by meansof girders or strengthening members 24ivliich extendV the length of the f cannon and' have their ends adjacentl its muzzle reduced and screw-threaded to receive the nuts 25 so asv to tighten the collar 23 against the disks 22`on the spool adjacent said-collarand also .forj .holding said `miemz bers in edge'wise engagement with the flanges of the'spools. For this engagement each of Vthe girders-24 is provided at proper spaced Figs. l and through `openings in the girders 24k at vthe longitudinal sides of said recesses. Located on the lower surface of each of the girders 24 is a keeper ormember 30 having at each.. of its endsanV in-turned flange which rests longitudinally against the girder on-eachf side of each of saidrecesses. i

very efficient, easilyapplied and readily detached 'and at the same time enabling the girders to be removed when desired fromthe Each keeper or member 30 is provided with openings through which the A; screw bolts 29.are extended and secured in place byiineans of nuts lapplied thereto. .Thus it will beunderstood the arrangement for fastening the'girders'in` place will beV The . outer barrel 16 and an intermediate barrel 17 f said flanges or placed 'thereon in anyfeasyV manner, which operation cannot be pierformed by the structure patent. Y

Instead of using the structure shown in Fig. 4 and above described for engaging the girders 24 with the spool flanges 20 I may use tap screws 29a are exended through the openings in the heads 28 and each tapped into an openingV or of a plurality of barrels, I employ a very thin sleeve 21 of ductile material Vwhich is provided with lan open ended-slot 21EL and placingA it on one of the barrels by nesting them together .so thatthe outer surface of each barrel will havethe ductile sleeve inter@ posed between it and the adjacent inner surface of another barrel as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6 of the drawings. By this arrangement it will Ybe understood that by slotting the sleeves as shown, they can be more easily and accurately fitted on their respect-ive barrels withoutany danger of crinkling and that thus the pressure transmit-ted to all of the barrels will bei even and uniform.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a ductile sleeve 21 interposed between the outer barrel and the body portion of the spools which construction I may sometimes employ.l

In Fig. 6 .is illustrated `a gun made of three barrels, that is, an inner barrel '15V an and having omitted from said group of barrels the spools and their reenforcing disks, as well as, the means for securing said spools in position. A gun barrel made according to this last named constructionl which it will be understood Yis provided lwith ductile sleeves 21 of the construction shown in Fig. 7 will be highly adaptable for use on air-planes and for the lighter type of ordnance.

Referring now to Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings it willbe seen that vthe breechblock 35 which may be ofany preferred kor the usual kind is provided near its outer end with an .annular groove 36 into which is fitted the forward end of a lframe 37 which extends rearwardly from saidl block and constitutes a part of my improvedvfiring mechanism. This frame 37 has its upper and lower portions transversely united vby a bolt 38 which extends diametrically through the head of the breech-block and serves to hold the forward ends' of the frame 37 seof-the aforesaid movably see Fig. 10 which'l uniform pres' curelyv` in the channel .or groove36-.- The l head ofthe breech-blockhascentrally `there- Y in an opening through -which a firing rod 39 extends. into or at the rear-'endet` barrelV 15 and "through-the rear endfofy the fraine'37.v This member is pro.`l Vvided with a 'fixedV transverse projection i403` l the. inner within the fra-me 37 against' .one yend of Y which `a `'spring 41 rests, theother endof which spring contacts with a cross member 42 of the frame which memberV is also apertured for said firingrod which has at its rear Aend a handk piece 43 for `retracting said ,rod to its Vcoclredposition as vshown .within the@ fro frame 3,7 a rod 39 is provided with a notch 44 for thereception .ofV a trigger 45' which is transverselyniounted injthe rear of: the' frame 37 .and4 is ,actuatedy towards the `vrod vby meansofa spring 46 whichv rests at one ofits yends against' the flange37 and 4atvits other end against va releasing framef- 47V through which the trigger 45 extendsiii any Vsuitable fixed relation'. .This frame347 is y provided in its rear and frontwallwith elongated openings 48. through which. lthe firing rod extends.r From the 'lower por.-L Y tion of the frame `47 depends aconnection 49 through the frame 37 Vwhich. connection has near. its lower end a laterally extending pin 50 for engagement with the forked endk of the shorter arm 51of a bell-crank-lever 52 vto the longer arm of whichV is secured one end `of a cord or cable y53 which lmaylead to anyl distance from the vcannon and is Yemy ployed for moving thelonger arm or said ico bell-crank-lever in the proper direction to* release Athe trigger 45k so as Vto allow` the spring 41 to force the firing rodv 29 forward-- ly to explode the charge.`

It will be understood that anyvor all of the barrels'used-inthe construction ofthe Y cannon, except the rifled barrel may be tapered on both their Vsurfaces `on either 1 n their inner yor outer surfaces. r

Having thus fuiiy described the inval-- iio tion, whatv I claim as new `and desire'tose-f cure by Letters Patent is f- 1. In acannon of the .class mounted thereon, each spoolhaving tubular body portions fitted one within another `and rounding the outerbody member, and vmeans to secure said spools together undertension on the barrel, said 'securing means consista.

ing of a plurality of girders vor strengthendescribed, the` i combination of a barrel, aseries of spoolsVV ing members each having vspaced recesses 'onY its edge adjacent said` spool flanges to einbrace a pair of the 'same and being some-v what larger than the united thickness of each member of each pair-of flanges,nieans y' inserted in each of said recesses on each side,

of the flangesfor holding thelatter undeii high pressure and means to detachablyconneet said inserted meansV to the girders or strengthening members.

2. A cannon ofthe class. described comprising a barrel tapered towards its muz zle end, arplurality4 of spools mounted longitudinally thereon1 each spool having tubular body portions lit-ted one within another and having at opposite ends an outwardly eX# tended iiange, the inner body portion of the spools being tapered on its-inner surfaceto vcorrespond with the `taper of the barrel, a

plurality of comparatively thin girders or strengthening members mounted on said anges and each having spaced recesses on 1 its edge adjacentsaid spool flanges to venivbrace a pair of the same and beingl some what larger than the united thiclrness'rof each member of each pair of flanges, a wedgeV shaped'memberinserted in each of said-recesses on each. side ofthe flanges for hold` y ing the same under high tension or pressure and means detachably connecting said Wedge shaped members to the girders orV strengthening members.` 1

3. A cannon of the class described coinprising a riled inner barrel having its outer surfaceV inclined towards its muzzle end, a longitudinally split sleeve of ductile material tapered-towards its muzzle end and fitted on the outer surface of the'inner barrel and an outer barrel vi'itted of said sleeve. 1

4. A cannon'of the'class described comon the outer surface prisin'g an outer and an inner barrel tted Vone in the'` other, a longitudinally split duc- 'tilef sleeve between Ysaid barrels the said outer barrel being tapered towards its muzzle end and spools carrying reenforcing members andhavlng their inner Vsurfaces Ytapered torcorrespond with the taper of said outer barrel mounted incontacting relation with one another on thelast` named barrel.

5. A cannonof the class described comprising a plurality of spools each spool having tubular body portions fitted one within 

